Ruler tape



Sept. 17, 1935. l F, Q GARLSQNV 2,014,375

RULER TAPE Filed March' 13, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l "r l' /9 o b 2/ v22 2 -INVENT0 y M c9- CMA.

` f ATTORNEY;

F. o. CARLSON 2,014,375

RULER TAPE Filed March 13, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 17, 1935.

/NI/ENTo/e v Patented Sept. 17, 1935 r Y UNITED: STATES PATENT VOFFICE .fRULEn-i TAPE -Frederick O. Carlson, Shelburne.Falls,-.Mass.

Application March 13,21931, Serial N.'522,316 V`8 Claims. (Gl. 33.138)

This invention relates to ruler tapes and partape bysprings I1; It should be` noted thatthe ticularly to ruler tapes having a tendency and drum 6 is not secured to any part of the holder and the capacity, when coiled, to unco-il'and assume a lis free to Vshift its position within the coniines of "straight line" formation, and holderstherefor. f the rollers 158,9, I0, and I I. It should be noted It `is an object 'of the invention to provide an alsothatrollers 1 and' havea-xed'radial posi- 5 efficient holder for such a tape in which the tape tion, While rollers 9, I0, and I I may vmove toward may be'readily coiled, and confined when not in and from the Vcoiled tape-andare spring pressed use. `tov/"ardthetape and'toward rollers 1 and 8. Thus It is affurther object to prom/idea holder from the coiled tape is held in contact with the rollers 10 which Vsuch a'tape may loe-.readily Withdrawn or 1 and 8 'bythe-pressure of the rollers 9, IIJ, and I I l0 projected. While-the drumgt is; free to shift toward `or from In the drawingsz rollers-1 vand asl the diameter :of `the coil decreases Figure 1 is` a'perspective view of a holder and or increases; This arrangement facilitates the ruler tape embodying the invention. f coiling and vuncoi-ling ofthe tapefabout the drum,

Fig-'2 iS all enlarged top plan-view of the same as the ,drumhandcoil-arepermitted to shift their l5 'With the cover removed and showing a substantial position in 'response topressures and thus assist portion of the tape coiled Within the holder. in equalizing the pressure 'or the severalrollers on Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. the coiled'tape. v Figl is the same as Fig. 2 with the upper-cam The holder as thus-far' described may be used plate-'removed and showing the position oi the uwith the tape to provide a' ruler of-the push- 20 parts when the tape is Withdrawn from the holder ,.pull type, i. e., a ruler in Which the tape is to the limit of its outward travel. manually; pushed into and ypulled yout, of the Fig. 5 iS a SECT/i011 0n the 1in@ 5-5 0f Fig. 4. "holder: 4When 'so' used the drum v6 and the tape Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2. coiled thereabout areconrlned against movement 25 Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-1'of Fig. 4. axially of saidfcasing by thel upper and `lower 25 Fig.l 8 is a section on thev line 8-8 of Fig. 4. wallsof theholderyandsaid.tape is at all times Referring to; Fig. 1, theruler tape, which is `confined about, the drum by the yielding presdesignated I, is preferably made of tempered steel surez-withwhich the "releasablerollers 9, I0, and and is concavo-convexin cross-section to give itH Hgholdthe'tape andpdrum against the rollers 1 '30 the tendency and capacity when coiled, to uncoilm` andgmounted on theV fixed spindles I2; The 30 and assume a straight line formation. l rollers '1, 8, 9, Ill, 'and II-are substantially non- The illustrative holder 2.; which is cylindricalA irictionally mounted ori-their respective spindles, in form, vconsists of anr upper section 2a and aandpermit the rotation `of the drum 6 with the lower section 2b held together by screw bolts 4, tapecoiled'thereonto coil 0r uncoilthe tape, the

35 As shown in Fig. 2, the tape enters the holder V'yielding pressure of the' rollers 9, I0, 'and I'I 35 through Ya guide'opening-B vprovided in the sidey creating suicienttfriction between the tape and wall yof the'holder. The inner end of the tape is the holder-to preventthe automatic projection of secured'to a drum member Sabout Which-the tape `,the tape fromthe ho1der-whenthe rollers 9, I0, is coiled and confined. vand I'li are theirunreleased` position. As the f The tape is coniined in coiledformation onu diameter of the coil.abou't the `drum expands lo the drum 6 by a series of rollers 1, 8, 9, I9 and I I, and contracts in uresponse to the` increase or de- Which are arrangedy to bear against the outer con' .crease in the number oi" convolutions in the'coil, volution oiD the coil with suicient pressure to. the yielding pressures of the rollers 9, I0and hold the tape .against 'self-projection from the j lI permit .a shifting othe'rollers.

-' 45' holder While pemli'l'fing a ready D11-Shing 01' pull- As abovejndicated; When, the yielding pres- 45 ing ofthe tape into or out oiV the holder, as sure,.`which the rollers 9, I0 and II exert on the the case may be. coiled tape is released,- the -frictionv between the Rollers 1 and 8 are rotatably mounted on, A tape andthe holder. is reducedto the extent that spindles IZ carried by supports I3 extending inthe tape and drum are substantially-anti-fric- 'wardly from a liner I4 secured to or'held intionally mounted in'theholder, the rollers 1, 8, 50 "contact with the inner side Wall of'fthe holder as '9, I0', and I I` acting to Yeffect this .anti-frictional for example by solder or the like.' Rollers 9, I0 mounting. and I I are rotatably mounted on spindles I5 car- 5 In order to accomplishvthe release Aof the roll- 4'ried by arms I6 pivoted to liner I4. yArms I6 are 1- ers 9,l I0', land I I, rand; consequently reduce the yieldingly pressed toward drum 'Sand the coiled friction existingbetweenfthe-coil andd thef holder, 55

whereby the tape is permitted to project itself out of the holder through the guide opening 5, I provide cam plates I8 constructed and arranged to counteract the pressure on the springs I1, and to move the rollers 9, I9, and II away from the coiled tape. The movement of the cam plates I8 with respect to the holder 2 is guided by eX- tensions I9 which extend through the holder 2, and at the other end by the spindle I5 which is mounted between the plates, and which is in turn mounted on an arm Iii pivoted to the liner Ill.

As shown in Fig. 2, each plate I8 is formed to engage spindles I5 and move the spindles and the. rollers carried thereby away from the coil whenVH the plate is moved to the left in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 3, two cam plates are provided, one above and one below the coil. Each plate is provided with an extension I9 which extends outside the holder through an opening formed in the side wall of the holder. Extensions I9 of the plates I8 are secured to a push button 20 which.

may be pushed by the operator to move plates I8 and thereby move rollers 9, I0, and II away from the coil. Springs II return plates I8 to initial position when the pressure on button 29 is released.

Still referring to Fig. 3, lower plate I8 rests upon a flange 2I of a button 22 which extends through an opening formed in the bottom wall of the holder. Flange 2l by contact with the bottom wall of the holder prevents the button 22 from dropping through the opening in the bottom wall, and also holds the plate I8 in raised position relative to the bottom wall of the holder to facilitate its movement in response to pressure on the button 20. Upper plate I8 is provided on its upper surface with raised portions 23 to hold the plate in spaced relationship to the top of the holder and to reduce frictional Contact between the plate and the top of the holder.

When cam plates I8 are employed to provide a self-projecting ruler, the drum 6 lies between the two plates I8. Pressure on button 22 will move lower plate I8 toward upper plate I8 and thereby lretard or stop rotation of the drum 6. As the height of the drum is slightly greater than the height of the coiledtape, this braking m'eans permits the operator to take up slack in the coil, by pressing the button 22 to prevent rotation of drum 6 and then pulling outwardly on the tape to tighten it about the drum.

A guard 24 may be provided on the outer end of the tape to prevent the outer end of the tape from passing into the holder through the opening 5 and to assist in pulling the tape out of the holder in the push-pull type of ruler.

In operation, and starting with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 4, the operator holds the holder in one hand and with theother hand pushes the tape into the holder through guide opening 5.Y The pushing in of the tape rotates drum 6 and coils `the tape thereabout During the coiling, the spring pressed rollers 9, I9, and I I press against the outer convolution of the coil and press the coil against the rollers I and 8, so that the incoming tape is confined in coiled formation about the drum. As the diameter of the coill increases, the rollers 9, I0, and II yield, and the drum 6 shifts away from rollers 'l and 8, as shown in Fig. 2. When the tape is coiled in the holder, it may be withdrawn by grasping the guard 24 and pulling the tape out of the holder, the rollers 9, I I), and I I maintaining their confining pressure on the coil, or the button 20 may be pressed by the operator to move cam plates I8 and the rollers 9, I0, ,and I I, and release the confning pressure on the coil and permit the tape to project itself from the holder. When the pressure on button 20 is released, rollers 9, I0, and lII are again pressed by their springs into confining engagement with the coil. If during a return of the tape to the holder, the tape for any reason does not coil tightly about the drum, or if for any other reason the pressure on the exterior coils of the tape is released without allowing one end of the tape to project from the holder thereby causing the coils to have rotational and radial movement with respect to the drum, the slack may be taken up by pressing the button 22 to prevent rotation of drum 6, .and pulling outwardly on the tape to tighten it about the drum. Then the returnof the tape to the holder may be resumed by pushing the tape into the holder.

The floating drum is particularly advantageous as it tends to equalize the pressure of the confining rollers by shifting in response to increases or decreases in the diameter of the coil, and thereby facilitates the coiling and uncoiling of the tape.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiment shown for purposes ofillustration, as the several inventive features thereof may be used to advantage 1U in other forms and in various combinations.

I claim:

l. The combination of a ruler tape having the capacity and tendency when coiled, to uncoil; a

holder therefor, including a iioating drum, and;

releasable means to confine the tape in coiled formation on the drum, said means acting, in nonreleased position, as a brake to prevent the projection of the tape from the holder, and in a released position as a non-frictional support, to-

allow the tape to project from the holder, said releasable means including a plurality of rotatable members mounted on fixed axes and a plurality of releasable rotatable members mounted on movable axes. 1

2. The combination of a ruler tape, and a holder therefor including a drum, and means to confine the tape in coiled formation on the drum while permitting rotation thereof to coil or uncoil the tape, said conning means including a; plurality of members rotatable about fixed axes and a plurality of releasable members rotatable about movable axes, the drum and tape coils being interposed between the first-named members and the releasable members, and the releasable55 members vbeing spring-pressed toward the tape coils and the rst-named members to confine to said drum the tape coiled thereabout and at the same time provide an antifrictional support for said drum and said tape. f

"60 3. In combination, a, ruler tape having the capacity and tendency when coiled to uncoil, a holder therefor including a fioating drum about which said tape may be coiled, and releasable means for controlling the action of said drum and tape coils,- said releasable means when in a released position permitting rotation of the coils and drum while substantially preventing relative rotatable movement between said drum and the respective coils,

said means also acting as a brake when in nonreleased position to prevent the projection of the tape from the holder, said releasable means including a plurality of members rotatable about .fixed axes, and a plurality of members rotatable about movable axes.

4. The combination of a ruler tape having the capacity and tendency when coiled to uncoil, a holder therefor including a floating drum about which said tape may be coiled, and releasable means for controlling the operation of said drum and tape coils, said means when in a released position permitting rotation of the coils and drum while substantially preventing relative rotatable movement between said drum and the respective coils, said means also acting as a brake when in non-released position to prevent the projection of the tape from the holder, said releasable means including a plurality of members rotatable about fixed axes, and a plurality of releasable members rotatable about movable axes; and manually operable means for releasing said releasable members.

5. In combination, a ruler tape having the capacity and tendency when coiled to uncoil, a holder therefor including a iioating drum about which tape may be coiled, and releasable means for controlling the action of said drum and tape coils, said means when in a released position acting as a non-frictional support of said coils and drum while substantially preventing relative rotatable movement between said drum and the respective coils of said tape, said means also acting as a brake when in non-released position to prevent the projection of the tape from the holder, said releasable means including a plurality of members rotatable about fixed axes, and a plurality of releasable members rotatable about movable axes, and resilient means for forcing said movable axes toward said drum; and manually operable means for counteracting the tendency of said resilient means.

6. In combination7 a ruler tape having the tendency when coiled to uncoil and assume a straight-line position, a drum about which said tape may be coiled, a casing in which said drum and the tape coiled thereon may be housed, a plurality of members in said casing rotatable about xed axes, a plurality `of members rotatable about axes having lateral movement with respect to said casing, said members being 1ocated radially with respect to said drum, springs pressing the said members mounted on said movable axes toward said drum whereby relative movement of the drum with respect to the tape coiled thereabout is substantially prevented; and braking means mounted on said casing for preventing the movement of said drum with said coils, whereby said coils may be made to move with respect to the drum.

7. A pocket Aruler comprising a ruler tape having the capacity and tendency when coiled to uncoil and assume a straight-line formation, a drum about which said tape may be coiled, a housing, a plurality of rollers mounted on fixed axes in said housing, a plurality of rollers mounted on movable axes in said housing, and oppositely disposed with respect to said rst-named rollers, all of Said rollers being radially positioned with respect to `said drum, springs for forcing the said rollers mounted cn movable axes toward said drum whereby said rollers confine said coils to said drum, means for counteracting the pressure of said springs whereby said coils and drum are non-frictionally guided with respect to said housing, and means for preventing rotation of said drum with respect to said housing without preventing the rotation of said coils with respect to said housing, whereby said coils may be Wound tighter about said drum by manually pulling said tape from said housing while braking said drum.

8. A pocket ruler comprising a housing, a rotatable drum in said housing, a resilient metal ruler tape coilable `on and uncoilable from said drum, said tape having the tendency when coiled to uncoil, control means including anti-friction means for contacting with the tape coiled on the drum for holding the tape and drum stationary within the housing, manually operable release mechanism for releasing said control means sufiiciently to permit friction for rotation of the drum and tape coils to project the tape from the housing while holding the coiled portion of the tape against appreciable movement with respect to the drum.

FREDERICK O. CARLSON. 

